Latch controlling mechanism



prl 3, 1945. H. L. NEER ETAL 2,372,844

LATCH `CONTROLLING MECHANISM Filed March 25, 194s` 2 sheets-sheet 1 if 9J .94 2f April 3, 1.945. H. NER ETAL 2,372,844

LATCH CONTROLLING MECHANISM Filed March 25, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheei 2 V a :ii

- 92 Y h E l wf lIII Patented Apr. 3, 1945 2,372,844 LATCH ooNrRoLLrNG MEoHANrsM Harry L. Neer, Beech son, Indianapolis,

Grove, and Clifford H. Was- Ind., and Raymond L. Neer,

'Jacksonville Fla., assignors to Nik-O-Lok Company, Indiana Indianapolis,

Ind., a corporation of Application March 25, 1943, Serial No. 480,446

8 Claims.

The present invention relates to locks for shower cabinets, dressing rooms, or the,I like. The invention is particularly concerned with certain details of the mechanism for controlling the latch of the door for such a cabinet. While such locks are coin-controlled, means to be tripped by a deposited coin for permitting actuation of the latch by the outside door handle, and preferably incorporate means for rejecting slugs, and the like, and for protecting the mechanism against tripping by means of anything other than a. coin of the intended denomination, those features have nothing to do with the particular invention herein disclosed; and therefore the coin-tripped mechanism, the slug rejector, and the protective mechanism for preventing actuation of the latch by means other than a desired coin, are notdisclosed. In the mechanism herein disclosed, any standard type of such means may be used.

While the mechanism herein disclosed may be used to protect the door of a shower cabinet, dressing room, storage locker, sleeping compartment, or any similar enclosed space, it will be particularly described herein with relation to a shower cabinet. In such an installation, it is desirable that the cabinet shall be always clean, provided with fresh soap and towels, and otherwise in condition for convenient and Ipleasing use by the patron, at all times when it is not actually in use. It is desirable that the latch controlling mechanism shall be of such character as to provide against the possibility of a patron dropping a coin into the slot and then, upon opening the door, finding that the cabinet is not in condition for immediate use. It is desirable that the latch-controlling mechanism shall be of such character as to indicate to the attendant, upon a casual glance, Whether the cabinet is in condition for use, in use, or ready to be cleaned; It is desirable that the latch-controlling mechanism shall be of such character as to permit a and therefore incorporate Further objects of the invention will appear as f the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, our invention may be embodied 1n the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, howpatron to open the door to call for, and receive.

service of one character or another. and then again to close the door and be sure of continued privacy. It is desirable that there be provided means whereby the attendant can .lock the latchcontrolling mechanism against operation during times when the attendant is oli duty.

ever, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that change may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described, so long as the scope of the appended claims is not violated.

Fig. 1 is an elevation of an assembly plate, with certain parts of the mechanism of the presentl invention assembled thereon;

Fig. 2 is a similar View of the complete mecha'- nism of the present invention, parts being broken away for 4clarity of illustration; l

Fig. 3 is a similar view, with the parts in different positions, certain parts being broken away and certain parts being removed;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, With the parts in still different positions;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the complete organization, parts being broken away and other parts being shown in section for clarity of illustration;

Fig. 6 is a transverse fragmental section showing a detail; and

Fig. '7 is a fragmental sectiontaken in the plane Substantially perpendicular to the plane of Fig. 6.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, in Fig. 1 we have shown the assembly plate .20 upon which the latch-controlling mechanism is to be built up. In Fig. 1 there are shown yokes 2| and 22 suitably secured to the assembly plate near the top thereof, said yokes being formed with U-shaped portions in which is slidably guided a, latch bar 23 which may be of any suitable standard construction. To the upper edge of the latch b-ar 23 is secured a plate l2li carrying, vadjacent its right-hand end, as viewed in Fig. 1, an ear 25 which projects upwardly above the latch bar. The ear 25 is carried on a portion of the .plate 24 which projects forwardly -beyond the yoke 22, so that the yoke 22 does not interfere with movement of the ear toward the right from the position illustrated in Fig. 1. As will appear from the following description, the ear 25 is arranged for cooperation with a pin operable by a pass key to permit withdrawal of the latch bar by the attendant without inserting a coin into the mechanism.

The latch bar 23 is normally held in projected position by a spring 26 connected at one end to a plate 21 suitably secured to the assembly plate, and at its opposite end to a cotter pin 28 carried by the latch bar 23. As is clearly shown in Fig. 1, the rearward surface of the latch bar is cut away to provide a space between the latch bar and the assembly plate intermediate the ends of thelatch bar.

Received in said space and adapted to engage the right-hand end of the space, as viewed in Fig. l, is the upper end of a back tumbler lever 29 pivotally secured to the assembly plate 20 by a screw 3U. Said lever 29 is formed with a cam surface 3| positioned closely adjacent an operating pin 32 carried by the back shaft 33 which is projected through a suitable opening in the assembly plate 20. Said shaft 33, when the device of the present invention is assembled upon a door, projects, as is clearly shown in Fig. 5. through the door to carry an operating handle 34 on the inside of the door; and it will be obvious that oscillation ofthe shaft 33 in a clockwise direction` as viewed in Fig. l. will cause clockwise movement of the lever 29 about its pivotal axis to shift the latch bar 23 to tbe right. against the tendency of the spring 26, to withdraw the latch bar from engagement with its keeper. thereby permitting the door to be opened.

To provide for the same movement of the lever 29 in response to counterclcckwise movement of the shaft 33. we mount. upon a post 35 carried by the assembly plate 20, a lever 36 having an arm 31 cooperable with a surface 38 of the lever 29, and a finger 39 engageable by the pin 32. Obviously. counterclockwise movement of the shaft 33 will cause the pin 32 to engage the finger 39 to swing the lever 36 in a clockwise direction. whereby the arm 31, acting upon the surface 38 of the lever 29 will swing the lever 29 in a latch bar-retracting direction.

A. screw 40 secured to the assembly plate 20 provides a pivotal mounting trip 4|, one arm 42 of which is received within the space between the latch bar 23 and the assembly plate 20 in a position to be engaged by the left-hand end wall 43 of said space, upon movement of the latch bar to the right. Such movement of the latch bar occurs, of course, as the beveled end (not shown) of the latch bar engages its keeper when the door is moved to closed position. At its opposite end, the tumbler 4| is provided with a finger 44 projecting forwardly from the main body of the tumbler for a purpose later to be described. A perforated ear 45 is secured to the lower arm of the tumbler trip 4| as. an anchorage for a spring not shown in Fig. l.. but shown in, and described in connection with, Fig. 3 hereinafter.

A post 46, stationarily mounted on the assembly plate 20. is bifurcated and pivotally supports one end of a forward coin-carriage arm 4B. the movement of which is guided by a second bifurcated post 41, and which is urged toward the plate 20 by a spring 49. The arm 48 cooperates with astationary coin-carriage arm 48' to support temporarily a coin C deposited in the mechanism for releasing the same: and the pivotal mounting of the arm 48 permits the coin C to be forced downwardly between the arms 48 and 48" after its function has been performed.

The latch bar 23 is provided with a forwardly projecting flange 59 for a purpose later to be described.

The front tumbler 5| comprises a barrel jourfor a front tumbler.

lnaled upon the projecting end of the back shaft 33, and receives a plug 52, held against rotation with respect to the tumbler and formed with a kerf 53. Said tumbler comprises also a plate portion 54 substantially parallel with the assembly plate 20. At a point near the assembly plate 20, the tumbler 5| is provided with a tangentially projecting finger 55, positioned for cooperation with the finger 44 of the front tumbler trip 4|. Near its outer end, the tumbler 5| carries a projecting finger 56 for a purpose later to be described.

A plate 51 is formed with an aperture 58 whereby said plate is journal-mounted upon the projecting head of the plug 52 (see Fig. 2). The lower projecting end 59 of the plate 51 receives a pin 60 through which is pivotally connected to said plate end one end of a pitman 6I suitably connected to operate a counting register 62. Near its end 59, the plate 51 carries a pin 63 projecting toward the assembly plate 2U and, as is clearly illustrated in Fig. 2, positioned to be engaged by the nger 56 oi the tumbler 5| after said tumbler has been rotated through a small angle in a clockwise direction, whereby the plate 51 will be caused to partake of the latter portion of the clockwise movement of the tumbler 5|.

The tumbler 5| further comprises a tangen tially projecting arm 64. The fiange 50 of the latch bar 23 is disposed in the pathof clockwise movement of the arm 64.

A U-shaped strap 65 is secured to the assembly plate 26 by any suitable means. A spring 66 is anchored at one end to said strap 65 and at its opposite end to the arm 64, said spring resiliently urging the tumbler 5| toward the position illustrated in Fig. 2, the degree of movement of said tumbler in response to the tendency of the spring 66 being limited by the pin 35 which projects into the path of said arm.

A light spring 61 has its opposite ends respectively connected to the arm 64 and the ear 45, whereby the position of the arm 64 determines the degree of force applied by the spring 61 to the tumbler trip 4| urging said tumbler trip toward counterclockwise movement.

Upon one of the forwardly projecting walls of the strap 65 is secured a screw 68 providing a pivotal mounting for a trip lever 59. A spring 10 (see Figs. 1, 6, and '1) is connected to one arm 1| of said lever 69 to bias said trip lever toward movement in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 6. The arm 1| of said trip lever is disposed in the path of the nger 12 of the tumbler 29 so that, when said tumbler is turned in a clockwise direction, the lever 69 will be moved in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 6, to lift the arm of said lever 69 opposite the arm 1| thereof, for a purpose later to be described.

, Integral with. or suitably carried by, the plate portion 54 of the tumbler 5| is an angle plate 13 having one surface parallel with the assembly plate 29 and another surface parallel with the arm 54. Said plate 13 is formed with a coin-receiving slot 14 through which a coin of suitable denomination may be inserted into a coin-receiving space between the arm 64 and the portion of the plate 13 parallel therewit A link 15 (see Fig. 2) is pivotally mounted at one end upon a screw or rivet 16 carried in the lower right-hand portion of the plate 51. Adjacent its opposite end, the link 15 is formed with a slot 11, and a screw 18, carried by one end'of a toggle lever 19 pivotally mounted at 80 upon the table portion of the strap 65, operatively engages in said slot 11. A spring 8|' is anchored at one end upon a ringer 82 formed on the link 15, and at its opposite end upon a. cotter pin 83 secured in the adjacent end wall of the strap 65. It will be clear that, as the plate 51 is rotated in a clockwise direction about the axis of the plug 52, the spring 8| will tend to cause rotary movement of the link 15 about its wise direction; thereby swinging the toggle lever 19 in a clockwise direction about its pivot 80; and, after a predetermined degree of movement of the plate 51, the spring will cause the link 15 and the lever 19, acting as a toggle, to swing past dead center. In that position, the shoulder 84 of the lever 19 immediately overlies that arm of the lever 69 opposite the arm 1| thereof.

A masking element carrying the legends Vacant, Out, and In use, is pivotally mounted upon a pin or screw 86 secured to a standard 81. Said masking element 85 is formed with a coin slot 88 which, when the parts are in the position of Fig. 2, registers with the slot 14 of formed with a the plate 13. The element 85 is notch 89 adapted, at times, to receive a pin 90 carried by the plate 13; and with a cam surface 9| adapted, at other times, to cooperate with the pin 90 to hold the masking element 85 in positions in which the slot 88 does not register with the slot 14.

A key 92 is formed with a slot 93 guided upon a screw 94 carried by the assembly plate 20, said slot having a branch 95 which, at times, cooper.- ates with a pin 96 carried by the assembly plate 20. The key 92 is further formed with a second slot 91 cooperating with a guide pin 98. A spring 92 resiliently urges the key 92 toward the position illustrated in Fig. A2.

when the key 92 is in the position of Fig. 2, its arm 99 is disposed in the path of the tumbler arm 64. A spring resiliently tends to direction. Referring, now, to Fig. 5, it will be seen that the above-described latch-operating assembly tilt said key 92in a clockwise may be secured to the outer surface of a door by bolts (not shown) which pass through the assembly plate 20 and through the door and into engagement with an inner escutcheon plate 1| 0| through which projects the back shaft 33. A casing or housing |03 provides a suitable mounting for an outer handle |04, the shank of which is formed with a of the plug 52. The front wall of the housing |03 is formed with a coin-receiving slot |06 which, whenthe parts registers with the slots 88 in the masks 85 and 14 in the plate 13. Said housing front wall is vfurther formed with a window |01 with which are adapted to register, selectively, the legends on the mask 85.

In the upper right-hand corner of thefront wall of the housing |03 is mounted a lock barrel |08 (see Fig. 2) adapted to be rotated by a suitable key, and carrying a lever arm I 09 which supports a pin |0. As is shown in Fig. 4, said pin is positioned for cooperation with the ear y'4.5 carried on the latch bar 23; and, at times, with the nger formed on the key 92, for a pur- A pose later to be described.

A shifter bar I l2 is formed with a longitudinally extending slot H3 through which project one or more screws I |4 carried on the upright 81. Said shifter bar is formed with a head H5 cooperable with a surface ||6 on the masking element 85. In the side wall of the housing |03 pivot 16 in a counterclock- |00, secured to said arm 99,v

blade |05 taking in the kerf 53` are in the positions of Fig. 2,

.. 3 adjacent the shifter bar ||2 there is supported a lock barrel ||1, adapted to be rotated by a suitable key, and carrying a cam ||8 adapted to oooperate with the foot ||2' of the shifter bar |2 to lift said shifter bar to engage the head I5 thereof with the surface ||6 of the mask for a purpose later to be described.

The operation of the above-described mechanism is as follows;

The parts being in the position of Fig. 2, a coin of suitable denomination may be inserted through the slots |06, 88, and 14 into the space between the arm 64 and the portion of the plate 13 parallel therewith, to rest upon the arms 48 and 48' to release the coin-controlled mechanism. The handle |04- may now be turned in a clockwise direction to rotate the plug 52, and thus the tumbler 5|'. Thereby, the arm 54 is moved into engagement with the ange of the latch bar 23 to retract the latch bar. AS the latch bar moves toward the right, the arm 64 engages the arm 99 of the key 02 to move said key toward the right, and the spring |00 acts to tilt the key 92 into the position of Fig. 3. Simultaneously, the nger 55 of the tumbler 5| is moved into the position illustrated in Fig. 3 and the spring 61 is stretched to exert a force on the ear 45 carried by the tumbler 4| tending to throw said tumbler 4| into the D0- sition illustrated in Fig. 3 (which'position the tumbler 4l will assume after the latch bar :23 moves slightly to the left from its extreme retracted position). As the tumbler 5| moves -in a clockwise direction, the finger 56 engages the stop pin 63 on the plate '-51 to turn said plate in a clockwise direction to move the pivot 18 of the toggle assembly the shoulder 84 into position immediately overlying the lever 69. This position is shown in Fig.A 7. As the plate 13 moves toward the position' of Fig. 3, the pin 90 rides the surfaces 89 and 9| of the mask 85 to throw the same into the position of Fig. 3.

The patron now opens the door and releases the handle |04.

The spring 66 will now tend to return the tumbler 5| toward the position of Fig. 2; but the expanded spring 51 swings the finger 44 of the tumbler trip lever 4| into the path of movement o? the finger 55; whereby return movement of the arm 54 is arrested in the position shown in' solid lines in Fig. 4. In this position, the latch.

can be freely operated any desired number of times by means'of the handle |04; but the slot 88 is out of registry with the slot |06 and is out of registry with the slot 14, so that a further coinv cannot be inserted in the organization.

The patron now enters the booth and `closes the door. As the beveled end of the latch bar 23 engages and passes its keeper, the latch bar will be momentarily shifted to the right. As it is so shifted, the wall 43 engages the tumbler trip arm 42 to stift the tumbler trip 0| in a clockwise direction momentarily. thus dsengaging the nger 44 from beneath the finger 55 and permitting the spring to swing the tumbler 5| into the position illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 4.

In'this position, the shoulder |20 of the plate 'I3 rests upon, and is supported by the shoulder |2| of te plate 5l. said plate51 being held against counterclockwise movement by the toggle mechanism 15-19 rl'he coin-released mechanism of the organization, parts, will prevent actuation of the latch bar by the outer handle |04. The pin 90, engaging' a portion of the surface 89, 9|, holds the mask 85 l5-19 past dead center to swingl in this position ofthe,

handle |04, and to prevent in a position in which the legend In use isvisible'through the window |01, and in which the slot 88 is out of registry withthe slotsl|06 and 14. The key 92 remains in its previous position.

If, for any reason, the patron thereafter desires to open the door, without abandoning the cabinet, he may do so by operating the inner handle 34. As he turns that handle to shift the tumbler 29 to retract the latch bar 23, the finger '|2 of the tumbler 29 shifts the lever 69 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 6, to engage the shoulder 84 of the toggle lever 19 to rotate that toggle lever slightly in a counterclockwise direction, thereby swinging the pivot 18 past dead center and permitting the spring 65, acting through the tumbler 5| and plate 13, to swing the plate 51 in a counterclockwise direction. The spring 8| likewise tends to swing the plate 51 into the position of Fig. 2.

Breaking of the toggle permits the barrel tumbler 5| to swing farther in a counterclockwise direction, until the arm S4 comes into contact with the surface ||9 of the key 92, said surface being in the position illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. That engagement stops further movement of the tumbler 5| and the plate 13 in a position in which the pin 90 holds the mask 85 with the legend Out visible through the window |01. In this position, the slot 88 is still out of registry with the slots |06 and 14, tlte handle |04 is held, by the coin-released mechanism, against latch retracting movement, the latch bar may be freely retracted by operation of the inner handle 34, but the key 92 holds the parts in positions to prevent operation of the latch bar by the outer the insertion of a coin into the mechanism. Thus, the patron may, if hedesires, close the door again and continue to use the cabinet in privacy.

Further operation of the latch bar by the inner handle 34 will have no further effect upon the other parts` o the mechanism; and when the patron abandons tle cabinet, the mechanism will be left in the condition above described.

Now, the attendant, seeing the legend Out through the window |01, will know that the cabinet needs to be cleaned and prepared for further use. Inserting his key in the lock barrel |08, he

rotates that barrel in a clockwise direction, as l viewed in Fig. 2. Such movement of the lock barrel swings'the arm |09 upwardly and to the 'right from the position illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. As the pin l0 moves upwardly, it engages the nger of the key 92 to raise the right-hand end of the key against the tendency of the spring |00. As the key 92 is so tilted, the spring 92' acts to shift the key toward the left, said key being guided in its movement toward the left by the engagement of the pin 93 in the guide slot 91, and by the engagement of the pin 9B in the branch 95 of the slot 93. Thus, the key 92 is returned to the position of Fig. 2, the surface I9 of said key being thus withdrawn. and the arm 64 is permitted to return, under the tendency o f the spring 66, into engagement .with the pin 35. Movement of the pin 99 with the plate 13 permits the mask 85 to return to the position of Fig. 2, in which the slot 88 thereof registers with the slots |06 and 14.

Such movement of the pin |0 also brings said pin into engagement with the ear to retract the latch bar 23. The attendant thus-opens the door and enters the booth to prepare it for further use. Of course, as he leaves the booth by operation of the inner handle 34, he in no way affects the parts 'of the mechanism herein disclosed.

When the attendant desires to go off duty, he will insert his key in the lock barrel |1 and rotate the same. The cam ||8 is thus turned'into engagement with the foot ||2 of the shifter bar ||2 to lift that bar, causing the head ||5 thereof to engage the surface ||6 of the mask 85 to shift said mask, entirely independently of the other parts of the mechanism, into a position in which the slot 88 is out of registry with the slots |06 and 14. This canv be done even if the cabinet is, at the moment, occupied. ,That is, it makes no difference whether the tumbler 5| is in the position of Fig. 2, the solid line position of Fig. 4, the dotted line position of Fig. 4, or the position assumed after the inner handle has been operated. The mask is normally so independent of the other parts of the mechanism, being normally held in engagement with the pin only by gravity, that no matter what may be the position of the other parts of the mechanism, the mask 85 may be shifted to slot-obstructing position. by means of the shifter bar ||2, without in any way effecting the operablity of the other parts of the mechanism Thus, after using his key to raise the shifter bar ||2, the attendant may freely go off duty, leaving the cabinet either vacant and ready for use, or occupied, or uncleaned, knowing that it will be impossible for a new patron to enter the cabinet and find it unready for use.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a coin-released latch-retracting mechanism, a latch-bar, an outer handle, a coin-receiving slot, means operable by said outer handle, upon insertionof a. proper coin through said slot. to retract said latch-bar, means actuated by latch-retracting operation of said outer handle to mask said slot, a rst means, a second means, and a third means shifted by latch-retracting movement of said outer handle into position to blockreturn movement of said latch-retracting means and said masking means, means actuated by retraction of said latch-bar, after release of said outer handle, tov withdraw said first blocking means, an inner handle operable to retract said latch-bar, means actuated by latch-bar-retracting operation of said inner handle to Withdraw said second blocking means, key-controlled means operable to retract said latch-bar, and means actuated only by operation of said keycontrolled means to withdraw said third blocking means and permit return of said first-named latch-retreating means and said masking means to coin-receiving position.

'2. The combination with a reciprocable latchbar biased toward projected position of means for controlling retraction of said latch-bar comprising an outer handle, an element operable by said handle, upon deposit of a suitable coin, to retract said latch-bar, means set by such actuation o f said element to stop return movement of lsaid element at three successive stations, each blocking deposit of a further coin, an inner han dle operable to retract said latch-bar, means actuated by retractive movement of said latch-bar independent of said handles to render ineffective the means for stopping said element at the rst of said stations, means actuated by operation of said inner handle to retract said latch-bar to rendez'` ineffective the means for stopping said element at the second of said stations, means operable only by a4 key to retract said latch-bar independently of either of said handles. and means operable by said key-operated means to render ineffective the means for stopping said element at the third of said stations.

3. The combination with a reciprocable latchbar biased toward projected position of means for controlling retraction of said latch-bar comprising an outer handle, an element operable by said handle, upon deposit of a suitable coin, to retract said latch-bar, means set by such actuation of said element to stop return vmovement of said element at three successive stations, each blocking deposit of a further coin, an inner handle operable to retract said latch-bar, means actuated by operation ol said inner handle to retract said latch-bar to render ineiective the means for stopping said element at the rst and second of said stations, means operable only by a key to retract said latch-bar independently of either oi 'said handles, said key-operated means to render ineffective the means for stopping said element at the third of said stations.

4. The combination with a reciprocable latchbar biased toward projected position of means for controlling Iretraction of said latch-bar comprising an outer handle, an element operable by said handle, upon deposit oi a suitable coin, to retract said latch-bar, means set by such actuation of said element to stop return movement of said element at three successive stations, each blocking deposit oi a further coin, an inner handle operable to retract said latch bar, means operable only by a key to retract said latch-bar independently of either of said handles, means operable by said key-operated means to render ineffective the means for stopping said element at the rst and third of said stations, and means actuated by operation of said inner handle to retract said latch bar to render ineffective the means for stopping said element at the second of said stations. l

5. The combination with a reciprocable latchbar biased toward projected position of means for controlling retraction of said latch-bar comprising an outer handle, an element operable bysaid handle, upon deposit f a suitable coin, to retract said latch-bar, means set by such actuation of said element to stop return movement of said element at three successive stations, each blocking deposit of a further coin, an inner handle operable to retract said latch-bar, tuated by retractive movement of said latch-bar independent of said handles to render ineffective the means for stopping said element at the iirst of said stations, means actuated by operation of said inner handle to retract said latch-bar to render ineiective the means for stopping said element at the second of said stations, means operable only by a key to retract said latch-bar independently of either of said handles, and means operable by said key-operated means to render ineffective the means for stopping said element at the third of said stations, said second and third means being entirely independent.

and mea-ns operable by means aC- 6. In a device of the class described, a retractable latch-bar, a housing therefor provided with a coin-receiving slot, an outer handle operable to retract said latch-bar only after insertion of a coin through said slot, an inner handle operable to `retract said latch-bar, masking means for said slot Within said housing, means operably connecting said outer handle to move said masking means into masking relation with said' slot upon latch-retracting operation of said outer handle, a key-operated lock mechanism, means set by latch-retracting movement of said outer handle to prevent return movement of said masking means to non-masking relation with said slot, said last-mentioned means being dependent upon conjoint operation of said inner handle and said lock mechanism to permit such return of said masking means, an independent key-operated lock mechanism, and means operated by said last-named lock mechanism for independently preventing such return of such masking means.

7. In a device of the class described, a retractable latch-bar, a housing therefor provided with a coin-receiving slot, an outer handle operable to retract said latch-bar only after insertion of a coin through sai-d slot, an inner -handle 0D- erable to retract said latch-bar, masking means for said slot Within said housing, means operably connecting said outer handle to move said masking means into masking relation .with said slot upon latch-retracting operation of said outer handle, a key-operated lock mechanism, and means set bylatch-retracting movement of said outer handle to prevent return movement of said masking means to non-masking relation with said slot, said last-mentioned means being dependent upon conjoint operation of said innerhandle and said lock mechanism to permit such return of said masking means.

8. 'In a device of the class described, a retractable latch-bar, a, housing therefor provided with a coin-receiving slot, an outer handle operable to retract said latch-bar only after insertion of a coin through said slot, an inner handle operable to retract said latch-bar, masking means for said slot Within said housing, means operably connecting said outer handle to move said masking means into masking relation with said slot upon latch-retracting operationvof said outer handle, a key-operated lock mechanism, means set by latch-retracting movement of said outer handle to prevent return movement of said masking means to non-masking relation with said slot, said last-mentioned means being dependent upon conjoint operation of said inner handle and said lock mechanism to permit such'return of said masking means, an independent key-operated lock mechanism, and means operated by said lastnamed lock mechanism for independently moving said masking means into masking relation with said slot.

HARRY L. NEER. CLIFFORD H. WASSON. RAYMOND L. NEER. 

